Friday, July 23, 2010

Back to six back. Johan & Vicente were both brilliant tonight, and the Mets led 2-1 heading into the 8th. Then the Dodgers bullpen — Weaver, McDonald, Taschner, Schlichting — went to work, turning four walks (one intentional) and a WP into four runs on a Jason Bay double. Eric Stephen tweets this: "#Dodgers relief pitchers since All-Star break (9 games): 21 walks, 8 strikeouts." Yeah, expect Trader Ned to turn more prospects into relief pitchers soon.

I don't get how our pen just rapidly fell apart so fast. I thought the Dodgers should have gotten at least one arm in the offseason (legitimate arm who would have an automatic spot, not a minor-leaguer like the Ortizi or Tattooed Lady). But Belly's in rehab, Sherrill's in limbo, Tron's in Albuquerque. Weaver is a non-factor all of a sudden. Monasterios is stuck between the rotation and the pen. None of the minor-league contracters have worked out, save Weaver. It's tough to understand how it all fell to pieces so damn fast.

On paper, the current bullpen looks serviceable. I said it myself earlier today. You just need to figure out how best to use them.

For example, Schlichting and Sherrill are not the guys you go to in bases loaded jams. Schlichting works pretty well with nobody on, but is awful when he inherits runners. If Joe had started the 8th with T-Slick, I think you would have seen different results. (Still a loss, because the offense took a nap, but at least a close loss.)

And that's another thing. Every time we have a prospect we might be able to dangle in some sort of trade rumor, he gets into a tight game and promptly walks the first guy he sees, or he gives up a 3-run double.